LOUISA, VA –Two young girls attacked by a rabid beaver in Lake Anna have been released from the hospital and are receiving the rabies vaccine.
The two sisters, ages 11 and eight, are receiving the rabies vaccine after they were attacked and bitten by a rabid beaver in the Sorbie Cove area of Lake Anna in Louisa County on Sunday.
The beaver had been shot and killed when authorities arrived on scene. Police then turned the beaver over to the health department, which confirmed the animal had rabies.
An attack is uncommon, according to officials. In the last 10 years, there have only been 12 reported cases of rabid positive beavers.
But the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries said it's more difficult to identity rabies in some animals than others.
"It's tough with beavers, because often times they're going to be in the water," said Megan Kirchgessner with DVM.
To help protect yourself, officials say there a few things swimmers and boaters can look for.
"Sometimes the dam will really be a big tip off that they're in beaver territory, so it might be a good idea if you're swimming around and you see a beaver dam, maybe move the boat down a little bit, just to make sure you're not in that territory," said Kirchgessner.
Copyright 2012 by Young Broadcasting of Richmond
